Sun Buckets, Inc. (sunbuckets.com | @SunBucketsInc)
Countdown to the 2020 Client Showcase: #9

SBDC: Illinois SBDC at Champaign County EDC (cusbdc.org)
SBDC Advisor: Mariel Huasanga

Sun Buckets, Inc. is an energy company with a focus on sustainability. Sun Bucket’s technology provides a game-changing innovation that enables the collection, storage, and use of renewable solar energy. With Sun Buckets, you can cook and dry food and agricultural products without fuel, fire, or emissions. And because Sun Buckets provide portable storage, you can use them when and where you like, including inside and at night. Sun Buckets cook and dry using solar energy, even at night. Sun Buckets, Inc. is tackling head-on the global cooking crisis, which is the 4th largest killer globally.

“Most of our current business is international. Mariel’s help and guidance [at the SBDC] has been invaluable. We started out not very familiar with international trade. With guidance from Mariel, we have negotiated letters of credit, arranged international partnerships, and shipped products around the world.” — Joe Bradley, Co-Founder/Chief Financial Officer (more…)

Inergy Solar (inergytek.com)
Countdown to the 2020 Client Showcase: #10

SBDC: Idaho SBDC – Region V (idahosbdc.org)
SBDC Advisor: Ann Swanson

Inergy began as an idea shared by a few passionate individuals, but that passion soon turned into a brand leading the renewable power revolution. Unlike other clean-tech companies that take a “top-down” approach to renewable power generation via large-scale projects, Inergy aims to democratize solar power with its innovative portable solar consumer products.

“The Inergy management team has interacted with SBDC in several events and meetings. Once we finished the registration and company introduction, the SBDC jumped right in and started helping Inergy with its plans to expand the company and explore options to secure an affordable manufacturing facility.  (more…)

In 2020, America’s SBDC is celebrating 40 years of helping small business development centers (SBDCs) and their entrepreneurial clients all over the country take the leap from BIG idea to small business success. Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, ready to take the next step with their business, can go to their local SBDCs for free, face-to-face business consulting and at-cost training on writing business plans, accessing capital, marketing, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, international trade and more. Businesses that partner with America’s SBDCs get started, create jobs, access capital, grow sales and prosper.

The Association will be celebrating its anniversary throughout 2020, with a variety of events that will highlight the year’s theme — “Think BIG. Start Small.” America’s SBDC is excited to announce its anniversary kick-off event will be the Client Showcase and Reception on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, in Washington, D.C. The following clients were selected from a pool of nominees submitted by their state/regional SBDC networks to be featured at the 2020 showcase: (more…)

Success Story: Iowa –

At the end of 2018, Becca Feauto and Stacie Anderson purchased Siouxland Magazine. They saw this as an opportunity to reach out to the community and start real, meaningful conversations. This makes them unique from other businesses in the area. They get together with a diverse group of community members bimonthly to discuss issues that are going on. This allows for there to be a difference of opinions and beliefs. “We are bringing people together, replacing judgement with understanding. Perspective is powerful.”

Becca and Stacie believe that in order to start your own business you need to be very passionate about what you are doing. They were surprised at what it takes to run and start a business —  the amazing journey it is. With the whole purpose of the magazine being to connect people through meaningful conversations, they decided to appropriately name their publishing company Empowering Conversations, LLC.

The most challenging part of their business is the financial factor. They want to stay ahead of the game and rack up as little debt as possible. This is leading them to invest more into their business in order to get the best out of the magazine. (more…)

Vermont Success Story, by Amanda Kuhnert –

In December of 2018, after five years in business, Kelly and Ricky Klein of Groennfell Meadery announced they would be closing their popular tasting room and restaurant in Colchester. “There is no question that this was the hardest decision we had to make about growing,” they wrote in a blog post on the company’s website. They had developed a loyal clientele and would miss the regulars who came in for weekly events and conversation.

But closing their Colchester location was a critical step in the company’s growth process. In July, 2019, Groenfell Meadery moved into a new facility in St. Albans. The larger space has enabled the Kleins to triple their brewing capacity. Their mead is now available in cans and on draft throughout New England.

Jumping the Curve

The Kleins first reached out to the Vermont Small Business Development (VtSBDC) in January, 2013, on a referral from VPTAC. They were seeking resources and advising on growing their business in the areas of marketing, pricing, and access to additional capital in the future. Over the years, the Kleins have taken advantage of the business resources and mentoring services available through VtSBDC. (more…)